Okay. I was always taught that guys were the ones who had to be strong.

I've been strong for the past two weeks, but my eldest is in Budapest now and I'm not feeling very strong right now. I'll admit that I cry. All guys do whether they admit it or not. I'm having a rough time. Am I weak?

4. Not in the least.

The one thing I have been trying to instill in my son is that it is okay to cry. And not just to cry, but to all out sob for his daddy. Families are meant to be together and when they are not, by distance, death or other issues, it is gut wrenching. You are stronger for admitting it.

By the way, anytime someone admires me for how "strong" I am, it irritates me. For one second I don't want to be strong.

5. Any man who would criticize you for that

is an overcompensating asshole. I find great satisfaction in being on the opposite side from overcompensating assholes.
That works for a lot of things in life - I know I'm not the originator of this thought but I do use it often - look at who is for a thing and who is against a thing and decide who I would be more proud to be aligned with.

overcompensating assholes are rarely, if ever, on the list of people I want to stand with.

7. nope

you are man and a dad. cuddle with your granddog and tell stories about your kid. use the kleenex if you want, sleeves don't work well for nose blowing. use an alcohol free/oil free facial lotion on your raw nose if you need to.